Exercise 1.5
Where the Magic Happens
As the title suggests, editing is what truly brings a movie together. It stitches individual shots within scenes, and then connects those scenes to create a coherent narrative.
Here, we have three versions of effectively the same story, and the editing styles of the two older films—Yojimbo and A Fistful of Dollars—are quite similar. Last Man Standing pays homage to the originals, but its approach to editing and scene transitions feels very different.
It may seem unfair to compare them this way since Yojimbo predates the Spaghetti Western genre, but to me, Yojimbo carries a distinct Spaghetti Western vibe. Perhaps this is because I discovered Yojimbo later in my film-watching journey. The way it balances wide shots with close-ups, especially in the opening sequences, allows viewers to observe the unfolding action through the protagonist’s perspective, then cut back to medium and close shots to capture reactions and emotions. The almost wordless openings, filled only with background chatter, contribute significantly to my enjoyment.
In contrast, Last Man Standing uses more than just simple cuts to move the story along. Fades, overlays, and mixed transitions give it a style that feels more inspired by music videos than by Akira Kurosawa. The poorly executed voice-over commentary further detracts from the experience, telling us what the characters are thinking rather than allowing the acting and scenes to convey that naturally.
In the final duel of A Fistful of Dollars, the editing adds drama through extreme close-ups of the eyes, detailed shots of gun-loading, and careful cutting between these and longer shots. The pacing leaves no doubt about the tension—even if it leans toward melodrama.
The showdown in Yojimbo is more restrained but effective. Instead of wide shots showing both opponents side by side, the film switches focus between them, tightening the frame from wide to long to medium shots, giving a strong sense of their closing distance. While the sword and knife fights are beautifully choreographed, they lack the raw power of the gunfight in Fistful.
Finally, Last Man Standing’s showdown is edited in a way that moves the viewer’s gaze but feels conventional and uninspired. The flow is smooth but adds neither tension nor excitement—it’s just plain and unremarkable.
